Aguta, Roba Win Marathon

BOSTON--As Agassiz Professor of Zoology Steven Jay Gould was bringing his History of Life lecture to a close yesterday at noon, more than 10,500 runners set off from Hopkinton, Mass. for a 2602/.2 mile rumble into Boston's Copley Square.

Doubtless, Kenyan native Lameck Aguta, who finished the race with a time 2:10:34 to win the men's field, Ethiopian Fatuma Roba, who won the women's race with time of 2:26:24, and the handful of other elite runners that crossed the finish line in under two and a half hours were the stars of yesterday's 101st Boston Marathon.

But for most mortals, Patriot's Day was just a good day to get away from work.

Whether they were families coming into the city for the day, foreign tourists in town for the week or beer-guzzling college students out for a good time, Bay State residents and fresh-air lovers from around the world jammed the streets of Boston's Back Bay neighborhood.

Jerry Marconi, a native of Nashua, N.H. spent most of the afternoon sitting across the street from a Newbury Street parking lot where Joe's Back Bay Restaurant called in the services of the Coors Silver Bullet van to set up a make-shift dance-floor/beer hall.

Although he said he was happy to be away from work for a day, Marconi, a veteran spectator, didn't get worked up by all the commotion.

With video camera in hand, he said he was simply there to see "his lady," Sandra Gilmore, run the marathon for her fifth time.

As he sat on a stoop enjoying the sun behind a pair of yellow-tinted sun-glasses, Marconi said that he was along for the ride--and enjoying it.

"I went to some spaghetti dinner last night and I'm gonna go to some spaghetti dinner tonight," Marconi boasted.

Marconi said that of all the marathons that Gilmore runs, Boston has by far the most challenging course.

"Let's face it, I could run the L.A. marathon," Marconi said. "Its flat."

But Marconi added that more than anything else, it is the crowds that separate the Boston marathon from all other races.

And while the estimated 1 million was down a half a million from last year's much publicized 100th anniversary, the finish line at the Boston Public Library was plenty loud when the lead runners began to trickle in.

But while the Back Bay was the pinnacle of Patriot's Day culture yesterday, Harvard Yard might have been the nadir.

The only major Harvard class not to meet yesterday--Literature and Arts C-37: "The Bible and Its Interpreters"--was canceled because of Passover, not Patriot's Day.

Still, hundreds of Harvard students played hooky and headed out to Hopkinton yesterday morning.

Exhausted, many last night said the marathon was an exhilarating experience.

Matthew R. McBrady, a resident tutor in Eliot House, was ecstatic yesterday after the race.

"It was fantastic, but without a doubt I won't do it again," McBrady said

As he sat on a stoop enjoying the sun behind a pair of yellow-tinted sun-glasses, Marconi said that he was along for the ride--and enjoying it.

"I went to some spaghetti dinner last night and I'm gonna go to some spaghetti dinner tonight," Marconi boasted.

Marconi said that of all the marathons that Gilmore runs, Boston has by far the most challenging course.

"Let's face it, I could run the L.A. marathon," Marconi said. "Its flat."

But Marconi added that more than anything else, it is the crowds that separate the Boston marathon from all other races.

And while the estimated 1 million was down a half a million from last year's much publicized 100th anniversary, the finish line at the Boston Public Library was plenty loud when the lead runners began to trickle in.

But while the Back Bay was the pinnacle of Patriot's Day culture yesterday, Harvard Yard might have been the nadir.

The only major Harvard class not to meet yesterday--Literature and Arts C-37: "The Bible and Its Interpreters"--was canceled because of Passover, not Patriot's Day.

Still, hundreds of Harvard students played hooky and headed out to Hopkinton yesterday morning.

Exhausted, many last night said the marathon was an exhilarating experience.

Matthew R. McBrady, a resident tutor in Eliot House, was ecstatic yesterday after the race.

"It was fantastic, but without a doubt I won't do it again," McBrady said